On the evening of June 28, 2019, 39-year-old Walter Quarles was shot and killed in the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood of Saint Paul. Quarles was riding in a car with his fiancée and a friend shortly after 8 p.m. when the vehicle passed an apartment building on Suburban Avenue and a man outside the building, later identified as 37-year-old Laurence Wilson, yelled at him. Quarles exited the car to confront Wilson; the exchange turned violent when Wilson produced a gun and fired. Witnesses said Wilson continued shooting after Quarles fell and tried to shield himself. Quarles died of apparent multiple gunshot wounds.

Investigators tied the shooting to a years-long grudge; Quarles’ fiancée said Wilson held a beef over Quarles’ past relationship with the mother of Wilson’s children. A friend in the car identified Wilson in a photo lineup, and Wilson’s uncle, who lived in the building, told police he saw his nephew shoot Quarles after trying to break up the argument. Two days later, Wilson surrendered and was charged with second-degree murder with intent. Anyone who knew Walter or who has information about the shooting is asked to come forward.